Sand Mountain Reporter

An Alabama Senate committee passed two bills Thursday aimed at denying public benefits to illegal immigrants and revoking bail for felony criminals not in the country legally.

The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability Committee passed the bills, sponsored by Sen. Hinton Mitchem.

On Feb. 2, the committee had passed another Mitchem bill, which cracks down on employing illegal workers by revoking the licenses of businesses that violate federal laws on hiring patterns and practices.

The three bills are now ready for full consideration by the Senate, according to a Senate spokeswoman.

“Illegal immigration is getting out of hand and is becoming a drain on the resources of state taxpayers,” said Mitchem, a Democrat from Union Grove who represents the 9th District of Blount, Madison and Marshall Counties. “Public benefits should be denied to illegal immigrants. Alabama taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for those in this country illegally, and my legislation will stop that.”

One of the bills passed Thursday requires applicants 19 years and older to prove they are in the country legally before obtaining government benefits, like welfare, unemployment compensation and public housing, from city, county and state agencies in Alabama.

“Because of the recession, the state of Alabama is struggling to create budgets that don’t require layoffs and furloughs,” Mitchem said. “It is wrong for public money to go to those who do not deserve it at a time of such budget woes.”

The other bill passed Thursday mandates denying bail to anyone without proof of citizenship who is arrested for DUI or a felony.

“If you can’t prove that you are a citizen when arrested, then you should not be freed,” Mitchem said. “They should not be released into our communities. They should be sent home.”

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Publisher: Ben Shurett

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Albertville, Alabama 35950

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